Russell Bannister promoted to Deputy Fire Chief

FORNEY, TX – The Forney Fire Department is excited to announce that Russell Bannister has been promoted to Deputy Fire Chief.

Russell was born and raised here in Forney and is a lifelong resident of this area. He is a graduate of Forney High School and Midwestern State University. Russell is married, and he and his wife have two children.

Chief Bannister began his career in the Fire Service shortly after graduating from college in 2003 as a volunteer firefighter. He was appointed to the Forney Fire Department as a full-time employee in March 2006 and to the rank of Driver/Operator in February 2015. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in February 2017 and to the rank of Captain in October 2021.

Chief Bannister will oversee the Emergency Services Division of the Fire Department, which is primarily responsible for daily operations, including personnel, emergency, and non-emergency response to calls for service.